A CO MEATH man charged with murder has told the Central Criminal Court he could not explain how sorry he was over the death of a youth outside a disco in Co Cavan.
Mr Patrick Carry (18), of Headfort Grove, Kells, Co Meath, agreed with Mr Dennis Vaughan Buckley SC, prosecuting, that Mr Tony Kenny died as a result of a row in which he [Carry] was the only other person involved.
Mr Justice Budd allowed Mr Carry a short break to compose himself and the weeping defendant sat for a time with his parents, who were also in tears.
Mr Carry was giving evidence on the sixth day of his trial. He has denied the murder of Mr Kenny (17), of Tromra Road, Granard, Co Longford, at Carrickatober, Crosskeys, Co Cavan, on March 6th, 1994, but has admitted Mr Kenny's manslaughter. The plea was rejected by the State.
The trial has heard Mr Kenny died of a haemorrhage following an incident outside the Carrig Springs disco in Co Cavan.
Mr Carry said he left the disco with a girl about 1.55 a.m. and they sat on the Kells bus. He was "feeling the effects of the drink" he had. He got off the bus to get his friends.
Two youths started "jeering at us", said Mr Carry. One of these youths, whom he now knew was, Mr Kenny, had said: "Go back to Kells, you scumbags". Mr Carry said: "I got angry and upset and felt humiliated and I hit him in the chest."
Mr Carry said they traded kicks and punches and Mr Kenny had slipped at the rear of the bus. He said he had kicked Mr Kenny "three to four times to the upper part of the body".
Evidence in the case is expected to conclude today.